The leaders of Russia and North Korea have signed an agreement that deepens their military cooperation to include a mutual defence pledge to help each other if attacked, with the Kim Jong-un calling the new ties an “alliance”.
Mr Kim spoke at a rare press conference following his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang, announcing the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” that the Russian leader said included defensive elements.
“The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement,” said Mr Putin, who was making his first visit to North Korea in 24 years.
Mr Putin’s visit, which is likely to reshape decades of Russia-North Korea relations at a time when both face international isolation, is being watched closely by South Korea and the US, which have expressed concern about their growing military ties.
The reaction from China, the North’s main political and economic benefactor and an increasingly important ally for Russia, has been muted.
Mr Kim said the pact would expand cooperation in the areas of politics, economy and defence, calling it “strictly peace-loving and defensive” in nature.
“Our two countries’ relations have been elevated to the new higher level of an alliance,” Kim said.
At the start of their summit, Mr Kim expressed “unconditional support” for “all of Russia’s policies”, including “a full support and firm alliance” for Mr Putin’s war with Ukraine.
Mr Putin said Moscow was fighting the hegemonic, imperialist policy of the United States and its allies, Russian media reported.
“We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including in the Ukrainian direction,” Russian state news agency RIA quoted Mr Putin as saying at the start of the talks.
Russia was hit with US-led Western sanctions after Mr Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022 in what Moscow called a “special military operation”.
Mr Putin, who had hosted Kim at a summit in September in the Russian Far East that accelerated the two countries’ military cooperation, received a lavish welcome in Pyongyang.
An honour guard including mounted soldiers, and a large crowd of civilians gathered at the Kim Il Sung Square by the Taedong River running through the capital. The scene included children holding balloons and giant portraits of the two leaders with national flags adorning the square’s main building.
Mr Kim and Mr Putin then rode to the Kumsusan Palace for summit talks.
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Earlier, Mr Kim said the increasingly complicated security environment around the world called for a stronger strategic dialogue with Russia.
“And I want to reaffirm that we will unconditionally and unwaveringly support all of Russia’s policies,” Mr Kim told the Russian leader.
North Korea “expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, as well as territorial integrity”, he said.
Mr Putin arrived at Pyongyang’s airport earlier in the day. After Mr Kim welcomed him with an embrace, the two shared “pent-up inmost thoughts” on the ride to the state guest house, North Korean state media said.
The countries’ partnership was an “engine for accelerating the building of a new multi-polar world” and Mr Putin’s visit demonstrated the invincibility and durability of their friendship and unity, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said.
Russia has used its warming ties with North Korea to needle Washington, while heavily sanctioned North Korea has won political backing and promises of economic support and trade from Moscow.
The United States and its allies say they fear Russia could provide aid for North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes, which are banned by UN Security Council resolutions, and have accused Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and artillery shells that Russia has used in its war in Ukraine.
Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers.
In a signal that Russia, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, is reassessing its approach to North Korea, Mr Putin praised Pyongyang ahead of his arrival for resisting what he said was US economic pressure, blackmail and threats.
In an article for North Korea’s official ruling party newspaper, he promised to “develop alternative trade and mutual settlement mechanisms not controlled by the West” and “build an equal and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia”.
The two leaders also exchanged gifts during the visit, with Mr Kim receiving a teaset and a luxury Russian-made Aurus car, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Mr Ushakov did not say what gifts Mr Putin received, but hinted they were related to Mr Putin’s image, “including busts”.
